Considerations When Choosing Between a Laptop vs. Desktop
When it’s time to get a new computer, users are faced with a common choice between a laptop and desktop computer.
Some people will naturally choose what they always have had, replacing a desktop with a desktop or laptop with a laptop, but there are some important considerations you should stop and think about between the two.
Laptops have come a long way since they first came into use, and they’re much better matched to a desktop these days. Whether you’re using your computer to access cloud services or run standard software, there are far fewer performance differences between the two devices than there used to be.
Laptops have been more popular than desktops when it comes to units sold over the last decade, and the gap between the two has been widening. When comparing the number of computers sold worldwide, we find that:
2010: 201 million laptop units, 157 million desktop units (24% more laptops)
2019: 166 million laptop units, 88.4 million desktop units (61% more laptops)
But there are still several considerations when choosing the best type of device for your computing needs.
Should You Get a Desktop or Laptop?
How you work will largely dictate whether a desktop or laptop is better for you. For example, if you need to work both in an office and at home, the portability of a laptop can make that easier and reduce the security risk of having to use remote desktop protocol to sign in to a desktop workstation.
Here are some of the top considerations when choosing the best type of computer for your needs.
Portability
When it comes to the ability to work where you need to, the laptop wins out. This is the reason it was invented in the first place, to allow people the ability to take their computer with them wherever they go.
If you travel for work or even work from home and just like the freedom of working from a desk, the sofa, or the backyard, a laptop is going to enable that type of freedom.
Screen Space
One limitation of many laptops is the screen space you have available. If you want a lightweight and easy-to-carry laptop, then you may find the smaller screen makes it much harder to do your work.
Desktop PCs, unless they’re an all-in-one, give you the freedom to choose the screen you want and swap it out anytime. This allows you to get a larger display with more screen real estate, which can be a plus when it comes to productivity.
Laptops can be hooked up to other monitors to increase screen space, but this will then reduce their portability factor.
Battery Power Supply
If you’re working on a desktop computer and the power goes out, your PC is down until you get power again. Desktop computers don’t come with internal batteries like laptops do.
On the other hand, today’s laptop batteries can support anywhere between an average of 6 – 12 hours of computing time without need for an external power source, which can be a big advantage during an outage.
Damage/Theft
Because desktop computers stay in one place most the time, they’re much less likely to be damaged due to being dropped or to be stolen.
Ten percent of laptops are stolen during their lifespan.
Because laptops are moved around more often and taken on planes, subways, to school, etc. they have a much bigger chance of being either damaged or stolen than a desktop computer.
And if you don’t have all your data backed up or use a strong password on your device, your personal data could be at risk of being lost or compromised.
Ports & Peripherals
Laptops typically will have fewer external ports than a desktop PC. For example, newer models will often lack an old-style VGA port that some monitors use.
However, most will still have USB, HDMI, and ethernet ports, which can be used for many of today’s peripherals.
Speed & Performance
When it comes to speed and performance, this is an area that laptops used to lag behind in, but no more. Today’s laptops and desktops can have identical performance specifications, including memory, processing power, and graphics.
Laptops that use SSD (solid-state drives) are particularly fast, and memory can impact both laptops and desktops in the same way.
So, when choosing a computer for performance, it’s the internal specifications that matter more so than whether it’s a laptop or desktop.
Pricing/Upgrade Capabilities
Pricing is another area where the gap has narrowed between laptop and desktops. Both have super cheap versions (that typically won’t last very long in both cases) and more expensive and higher-performance models.
Desktops do have more ability to have parts upgraded in most cases and give you more flexibility for customization. However, if you work with an IT pro, there are certain laptop components (like the hard drive, memory) that can be upgraded as well.
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Should You Get a Desktop or a Laptop? Here's How to Decide
For most of the history of computers, office workers used desktops. These days, the landscape is changing.
As laptop technology has advanced, portable computers have challenged the longstanding reign of desktops. Today, it's not uncommon for entire companies to exclusively use laptops.
This is not to say that desktops should go the way of the dinosaur. Desktop computers bring distinct benefits to the table. This means that weighing the pros and cons of desktop vs. laptop can be complicated.
If you're in the market for a new computer and your company offers a choice between a desktop and a laptop, don't rush out to buy whatever your coworkers use. Instead, review the following factors to determine which style of machine is right for you.
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Cost
Every laptop and desktop comes equipped with different features that influence cost. But as a general rule, desktops are less expensive than laptops with comparable features. (That said, it's important to remember that laptops are all-in-one machines whereas desktops often require additional accessories—such as a keyboard and mouse—in order to be fully functional.) Desktops also tend to be more durable and less vulnerable to damage than laptops, which can mean desktop owners pay for upgrades or replacements less often than laptop owners.
Ease of upgrading
Compared to laptops, desktops offer many more convenient upgrade options. This is largely because desktops afford the option of upgrading each part on a case-by-case basis. Whether you're looking to add RAM, upgrade a SSD or video card, expand the hard drive, or replace a broken part, you can do so fairly easily by investing in the individual parts required.
In contrast, there are very few individual parts that can be upgraded on a laptop. Those that can be upgraded or repaired typically require brand-specific components. Many times, upgrading a laptop means you have to purchase an entirely new machine.
Computing power
For a long time, desktops reigned supreme as the only computing tools powerful enough to handle serious multitasking. These days, laptops are vying for the throne. Thanks to advances in battery life, processors, and visual displays, quality laptops offer impressive computing power.
For the most part, desktops still have the edge when it comes to processors, memory, local storage space, expansion ports, and handling power-hungry projects such as graphics or video editing—especially when you compare a desktop computer and a laptop of the same price. But if you want something that can run several programs simultaneously, both desktops and high-powered laptops should be up to the task.
There are two caveats. First, know that high-powered laptops are more expensive than lesser-powered counterparts, and they're all but guaranteed to cost more than high-powered desktops. Second, high-powered laptops tend to be large, which can decrease portability.
Size
There is no better or worse machine when it comes to size—there's only personal preference.
Since they are designed for portability, laptops tend to be smaller than desktops. Desktop monitors, on the other hand, are typically larger. This can be valuable if you need to work simultaneously in multiple programs or if you work in graphics or video. Whether you select a laptop or desktop, it's easy to enjoy bigger screen size by connecting the machine to a second monitor (provided you don't need the laptop to be portable all the time).
Convenience
Laptops offer greater convenience in the form of physical portability and the peace of mind that you can take your work with you wherever you go. Laptops are also designed to be easy to use. Even the setup for a brand new laptop is hardly more intensive than plugging it in and turning it on.
Desktops, on the other hand, are easier to repair and usually offer more onsite service options than laptops, which typically need to be repaired at offsite, third-party establishments. But desktops' convenience pales in comparison to laptops' when you consider that their assembly is much more time-intensive and moving them can be a pain in the neck.
Portability
There's no question about it: When it comes to portability, laptops take the cake. If you need a computer that enables you to get work done and access your data on the go—whether on an airplane, in a train station, or in a hotel while traveling for business—then a laptop is the clear choice.
Life expectancy
Desktops tend to have a longer life expectancy than laptops for several reasons:
They're designed to stay in one place instead of getting lugged around, which means they're not as prone to damage.
They're less vulnerable to theft because they sit in one secure location instead of being moved about in public spaces.
As noted above, it's easy to replace broken parts or upgrade to higher-performing parts. This ensures the desktop remains functional over the long haul and decreases the need to purchase a new machine every few years. In contrast, when a laptop begins to have performance issues or no longer meets your needs, the only viable option is to buy a new machine.
Bottom line? Desktops tend to reign supreme when it comes to cost, ease of upgrading, power, and life expectancy. On the other hand, laptops take the cake in terms of portability and convenience. In the end, you need to carefully weigh how powerful your machine needs to be to get the job done and whether or not you're willing to shell out the extra cash for the added perk of portability. The key to the desktop vs. laptop conundrum is to take these considerations into account so you can purchase the best machine for you.
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Laura Newcomer
Laura Newcomer is a writer, editor, and educator with multiple years of experience working in the environmental and personal wellness space. Formerly Senior Editor at the health site Greatist, Laura now lives and works in Pennsylvania. Her writing has been published on Washington Post, TIME Healthland, Greatist, DailyBurn, Lifehacker, and Business Insider, among others. She has taught environmental education to students of all ages in both Pennsylvania and Maine, and prioritizes living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. She's a big proponent of creating self-sustaining communities and accessible healthy food systems that care for both people and the earth. An avid outdoorswoman, she can often be found hiking, kayaking, backpacking, and tending to her garden.
5 reasons to buy a desktop PC instead of a laptop
About a year ago, I bought a Mac for the first time in my life.
It’s not that I’m anti-Apple—I switch freely between iOS and Android, and I’m currently wearing an Apple Watch—but my preference for working in Windows has started to feel like a blind spot in my tech coverage. Even when I can borrow my wife’s MacBook to try the occasional app or MacOS trick, it’s not the same as living inside MacOS full-time.
But unlike the average Mac buyer, I didn’t end up with a MacBook. Instead, I went with Apple’s diminutive Mac Mini, which is now sitting on my desk beneath my main monitor. Whether it’s Windows or MacOS, one thing I know for sure is that I’m an enthusiastic desktop PC user.
While the laptop’s portability benefits are obvious, here’s why I still appreciate the desktop computer—whether it’s running Windows or MacOS:
Desktops can be cheaper
Apple’s Mac Mini starts at $700, which is $300 cheaper than a MacBook Air with nearly identical tech specs. Essentially, you’re not paying for the display, trackpad, battery, and webcam, which means you can put that savings toward better desktop accessories or use what you’ve already got.
The math gets a little trickier on the Windows side, where pricing can be all over the place. Still, you can generally find decent desktops in the $500 range (one example), whereas the quality of laptops in that price range can be iffy in terms of keyboard, trackpad, and build quality.
They’re better for certain applications
The always-on nature of desktop computers also opens up some use cases that aren’t practical with a laptop. If you want to use Plex or Channels DVR to record over-the-air TV or stream your personal media collection, you’ll need a computer that’s plugged in and running around the clock. Same goes if you’re rolling your own home automation service or sideloading apps on your iPhone. With a laptop, you’d lose access to these services whenever you put it to sleep.
They afford more power
Intel and AMD ship different sets of processors for laptops and desktops, with the latter being more powerful. After all, they don’t have to worry about keeping your lap cool or burning through too much battery life, and they can use bigger fans to dissipate heat. Apple, meanwhile, is clearly leaning into the strength of desktop computing with its Mac Studio, whose optional M1 Ultra chip outperforms any MacBook.
Of course, desktops also leave room for bigger, more powerful graphics cards for PC gaming—at least when you can find them.
Desktops are easier to expand …
To add more storage to a desktop PC, you merely need to throw in an extra internal hard drive or plug in an externa one. That means you can keep costs down on the initial purchase and expand as you go.
Adding more storage to a laptop creates a whole new set of complications. Only some Windows laptops let you install more internal storage, and Apple’s recent MacBooks aren’t expandable at all. While you can always plug an external drive into a laptop, you’ll need to avoid loading it with any important files or programs unless you always plan to take the extra drive with you.
… And they’re simpler to sit down and use
The ease of adding storage to a desktop ties into a broader point, which is that desktops can feel less cumbersome than laptops, especially when you’re bringing in external monitors, webcams, speakers, mice, and keyboards. You don’t have to deal with finding your laptop and plugging in power cords and peripherals before you can get comfy at your desk.
That might sound sort of silly—it’s not that hard to plug in a few cables, after all—but sometimes removing tiny bits of friction can make a big difference. Even using a fancy laptop docking station isn’t the same as being able to sit down at your desk and immediately start computing.
Whether those upsides are worth sacrificing the portability of a laptop is something I can’t answer for you. But they’re worth keeping in mind next time you’re in the market for a new computer.
This column first appeared in Advisorator, Jared’s newsletter for making sense of technology. Sign up to get practical tech tips in your inbox every week.
